Indictment brings to 109 the total number of persons charged in the SDTX with defrauding the government through hurricane disaster relief programs

(HOUSTON) – Richard Limbrick has been indicted for wire fraud and making false statements in connection with his claim for disaster relief following Hurricane Rita, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. Limbrick, 48, of Houston, surrendered to the United States Marshals this morning and has since been ordered released on bond pending trial following an appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Smith.

Limbrick, the 109th person charged in this district for allegedly defrauding the government through a hurricane disaster relief program, is charged in a 10-count indictment with making various misrepresentations in connection with a Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Business Loan. The indictment, returned on June 9, 2010, alleges that shortly after Hurricane Rita made landfall in September 2005, Limbrick applied for an SBA Disaster Business Loan. The indictment further alleges that, in connection with the loan, Limbrick submitted a series of false invoices which caused the SBA to disburse funds to him to which he was not entitled.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by agents with the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General.

This case was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf Oil Spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing the hotline at (225) 334-4707, or emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney F. Andino Reynal.